Remanufacturers’ association deems trade show a success, with “great networking”, new members and new Code of Conduct.
European Toner and Inkjet Remanufacturers’ Association (ETIRA) has announced that it enjoyed a successful Remanexpo Europe show, with representatives having the opportunity to meet with both existing and prospective members and a new Code of Conduct being approved at the association’s special members’ meeting.
Several new members signed up to join ETIRA, which used the show to promote the products and services of its members, as well as to distribute its well-known Guide to Clones, which warns European resellers and buyers when purchasing imported new-built toners from Asia that may infringe OEM patents and are not environmentally friendly.
A special meeting was also held during the show which saw ETIRA members approve a new Code of Conduct to highlight the key ETIRA member commitments and continue to ensure that ETIRA members are seen as industry leaders. Included in the new code covers member obligations including environmental responsibility, promotion of top-quality and innovative products, compliance with laws and regulations at national and international levels and ensuring consumer and work health and safety. It also includes clear instruction to not engage in patent-infringing new-builts in accordance with the association’s Guide to Clones.
Commenting on the new Code, Vincent van Dijk, Secretary General of ETIRA, said: “ETIRA members have always been “best of class” in the industry. The new Code again confirms that well-known fact, and shows the world our members are steadfast committed to a fair, innovative, and eco-friendly business model.
“It also shows we are dead serious about patent-infringing new-built clones. As we clarify in our Guide to Clones, marketing these products will quickly kill your business. The recent tough legal actions by the OEMs in Spain have removed many illegal patent-infringing new-builts from that market, and the importers / traders are now bankrupt. And this will soon happen in other EU countries too!”
ETIRA also took the opportunity to endorse the raid which took place at the show and saw the seizure of patent-infringing clones from the booths of two exhibitors, Ninestar and UniPlus Technology, with the association stating: “ETIRA fully endorses these raids: selling patent-infringing new-built cartridges is a criminal offence, and resellers and distributors should not buy these products if they want to stay out of court and avoid bankruptcy”.